Hydraulic Seals - Familiarize With The Different Types Available
Hydraulic cylinders and other reciprocating motion applications come with soft, non-metallic rings known as hydraulic seals. These are designed to separate or block fluids in such machines and applications. Otherwise, the components and chambers in machinery, which often contain different fluids, would be impossible to separate without them. Moreover, these devices help you retain hydraulic fluids, maintain hydraulic pressure, and keep out liquid and solid contaminants. Some of the hydraulic seals that perform these functions are outlined below.
1. Rod seals
Hydraulic sealing systems have numerous seals, but arguably the most important is rod seals. These components prevent hydraulic fluids from leaking from sealing systems, thereby helping users avoid immense losses and costs. Besides, curbing hydraulic fluid leakages is vital in environmental preservation. That is crucial because the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers hydraulic fluid a hazardous material since it contains +0.5% non-dissolved Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB). And PCB is a probable human carcinogen linked to human conditions like gall bladder, brain, and gastrointestinal tract cancers.
2. Piston seals
Piston hydraulic seals are primarily designed to maintain sealing contact between a cylinder bore and piston. The bore is the cylinder's inner diameter, while the piston is a moving disk that works by transferring a particular fluid's force output to a crankshaft. Both of these are vital components in hydraulic machines. But they cannot work effectively when liquids or other media are allowed to pass around the piston when acting pressure forces it to move down the cylinder. Fortunately, well-designed piston seals stop such issues, ensuring hydraulic cylinders deliver in the best way possible.
3. Wear rings
Hydraulic machinery needs components that can absorb the side load forces in the hydraulic cylinder and pistons. And, to this end, wear rings work flawlessly. These seals also play a vital role in reducing metal-to-metal contact that aggravates wear and tear. By doing that, they extend your hydraulic system's lifespan and help you avoid frequent repair and replacement costs. Besides, replacing wear rings that take the hit is much cheaper than purchasing a new hydraulic cylinder. Most experts prefer using non-metallic wear rings to protect hydraulic cylinders installed in fluid power applications like off-highway, industrial machines, and agricultural equipment.
4. Wiper seals
Wiper seals, otherwise known as scraper seals, are mostly used with the other hydraulic sealing products. Their main purpose is to create seals while simultaneously letting reciprocating shafts pass through their inner bore. Quality wiper seals come with wiping lips designed to clean away moisture, dirt, and dust particles, thereby protecting the hydraulic system from contamination. These components are mainly made from thermoplastic and elastomeric materials to protect the scraping edge from damage and facilitate good contact.
For more information about hydraulic seals, contact a company near you.
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